Improved mode of sinking wells



Unirse @raras Barnnr Ormea.

BENJN. J. O. HOWE, OF SYBAOSE, NEWT YORK.

IMPROVED MODE OF SINKING WELLS.

vSpecification forming part of Letters Patent No. 52,@53, dated February27, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, B.'J. C. HOWE, of Syracuse, in the county otlOnondaga and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Mode ofSinking and Constructing Well-Tubing; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full and exact description thereof, reference being hadto the annexed drawings, making a part of this specication, in which-Figure l is a vertical section of the excavating-tube and apparatus forsinking it into the earth. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the pump andwell-tube, showing the apertures for the admission of the water closed.Fig. 3 is a vertical section ofthe tube, showing the apertures openready for use. Fig. 4 is a detached view oi' one oi' the adjustablesections of the tube. Fig. 5 is a detached view of another form of thefoot F.

The nature of my invention consists in providing a strong tube of ironor other suitable material with a hollow foot or point, as shown at F,Fig. l, in which the opening is smaller than the inside diameter of thetube. The tube is also provided with a cap,C, which covers the upper endand protects it from being battered by the blows that are necessary toforce the tube into the earth.

Attached to the cap is a rod, R, which guides the weight W as it fallsupon the cap of the tube.

lThe weight W is provided with a groove,

into which the hook H catches and by means of which it is drawn upwarduntil the hook is thrown out of the groove by the disk D, which isattached to the rod B, and the weight of' course falls with force uponthe cap of the tube and forces the foot F a short distance into theground. rlhis process is repeated until the tube is driven to thesupposed depth of the water. The tube is then withdrawn, and byexamining its contents it is very easy to determine whether the properstrata ofthe earth to yield water has been reached, as a sample of thedifferent strata will pass in through the opening inthe foot of the tubeand be withdrawn with it.

At Fig. 5 is seen another form of the foot F, with its cutting-edge inthe shape of a transverse inclined section of a cone, so that if, in itsdownward progress, it encounters a stone a little too large to enterwithin its orice the latter may he forced aside and not bring theoperation to a stand, or the tube may be turned sufficienti y to avoidthe obstruction.

The opening at the foot of the excavatingtube, Fig. l, is made smallerthan the passage thnou gh the body of the tube, so as to permit any hardsubstance that can enter the opening in the foot to pass readily throughthe tube, thus preventing stone or hard earth from wedging int-o andobstructing the passage through the tube.

When the distance to the strata containing the water has beenascertained and the excavation reaching down to it has been made, asshown above, the pump-tube, which also answers for the well-tubing, isinserted in the excavation and forced down until the adjustable sectionsA A are situated in the strata yielding water. rlhe apertures betweenthe adjustable sections are then opened, as shown in Fig. 3, either bywithdrawing the tube a short distance or by inserting a rod in the tubeand driving the point P a short distance while the main portion of thetube remains stationary.

To the point I are attached the bars B B, having the pins c e attached,so that they will move in slots cut in the sides of the adjustablesections.

The bars B Bl are attached to the lower end of the main tube, havingpins c c attached to move in other slots cut in the adjustable sections.

Vhen the main tube is drawn upward the bars B B', moving with it, drawthe adjustable sections apart and the pins on the bars B B and Bl B' areso arranged with reference to the slots in the sides of the adjustablesections as tokeep them at equal and proper distances apart. Theoperator is now sure not only that the tube and openings into it areclear and free from obstructions, but that the openings are at theproper deptha matter' sometimes very difcult to ascertain-and nothingremains except to attach a pump and draw the water to the surface, asmay be required.

It is obvious that the number of the adjustable4 sections will varyaccording to the requirements of different localities, and also that theslots in the sections might be made in the bars instead, and the pins towork in ing at the foot of it au accurate knowledge of the differentstrata can be obtained by examining the contents of the pipe, and thusdetermine the proper depth ot' the well with` out the sometimes long`and tedious operation of applying the pump to test it.

Second, a tube is much lighter than a solid bar and more convenient touse and transport from place, as may be desired, and it is stronger thanthe same amount of metal would be in a bar.

Third, in passing through hard and solid earth 'a tube open at the lowerend will receive a portion of the earth which would have to be forcedaside in driving a solid bar,thus causing -it to drive much easier thana bar.

Fourth, the pile or tube driver, as shown in Fig. 1, is more simple andeasily transported than the heavy frame sometimes used.

Fifth, by having the well-tubing made in sections, so that the aperturescan be closed while the tube is being inserted in the earth and easilyopened, as already shownlabove, when the water is reached, prevents thetrouble and delay occasioned by having the apertures and lower end ofthe tube wedged full of solid earth, as it very frequently is in thecommon mode of constructing:thelfopenings to the tubing.

I Claim- 4 l. A tube to be used in sinking wells when a point or foot,F, is thereunto attached, constructed and operated substantially asherein set forth and described.

2. In a pump `and well tubefthe adjustable sections A A, in combinationwith the bars B B and pins e e, when constructed in the manner and'orthe purpose herein described.

BENJAMIN J. C. HOWE. r

Witnesses:

G. A. C. SMITH, GEO. C. LAMBRIGHT.

